NEWSFLASH: Aux Amateurs de Livres & Librairie Touzot Internationale Merger Update

Aux Amateurs de Livres & Librairie Touzot Internationale Merger Update
May 7, 2013

As we work through the last fiscal quarter for many of our clients, we’d like to take this opportunity to update you on the current calendar for important developments in the completion of the merger of the Aux Amateurs and Touzot bookshops.

On April 15th we installed a significant upgrade to our database software which will allow us to incorporate the best features of the two bookshop’s processes. This upgrade will also allow us to capture and merge the historical information as well as account details, selection and ordering capabilities for all customers.

We will be testing this upgrade and the merging of Touzot and Amateurs data in the coming month, before moving all customer activity to one workflow, thus allowing us to fully take advantage of our expanded staff resources.
Concurrently to these major projects, we are developing a new web access, while keeping some time aside to think of a new name for our combined bookshops.

We are well aware of the need for possible adjustments at your end, and we will notify everyone about a month in advance of this launch date to confirm the following changes for former Touzot accounts:

• your updated account structure
• access to the new website for your library staff at the existing Aux Amateurs domain www.auxam.fr (if you do not have this already)
• list of enhancements to web functions
• updated contact information for customers (who to go to for what)
• training and support options for those doing online selection and ordering
• and possibly news about changing to a new name…

For existing Aux Amateurs customers or those familiar with the Aux Amateurs website, selection and ordering processes, no significant changes will be made to access or account functions, apart from added features. For Touzot customers, while the process of logging in to your account, reviewing selections, placing orders or searching and or verifying account activity will be different, the general logic of receiving and reviewing new title notifications will be much the same, and the overall process will offer more tools for selection and greater access to account reporting.

We will be attending the Romance Languages Discussion Group at the ALA Chicago to present these changes to attendees and we hope to see as many of our clients as possible during this conference. We will also offer additional support through our representative, Robert Robbins robbins@together.net and from our account managers, Christèle Giboire christele@auxam.fr and Lionel Chaumontet lchaumontet@touzot.fr. Our director Gilles de La Rochefoucauld glr@auxam.fr is always available for any discussions of your existing approval plan or general business arrangements.

It has been a busy year and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through the many complex issues involved. Our goal is to continue to offer a better level of service over time than you have had with either bookshop in the past, and your continued feedback is an important element in achieving this goal.